Device for back filling holes



11, 1964 L. M. TILLMAN 3,120,975

I DEVICE FOR BACK FILLING HOLES Filed Dec. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. H g TIE M.T\LLMAN FIG. 2 m

Feb. 11, 1964 L. M. TILLMAN 3,120,975

DEVICE FOR BACK FILLING HOLES Filed Dec. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

\ QTTIE MHWLLMAN Feb. 11, 1964 M. TILLMAN 3,120,975

DEVICE FOR BACK FILLING HOLES Filed Dec. 10, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

LAg YTIE M-TILLMAN United States Patent 3,129,975 DEVIQE 1 6R BAQK MILLING HOLES Lattie M. Tillman, 1349 NW. 131st St., North Miami, Fla. Filed Dec. it), 1962, Ser. No. 243,447 6 Claims. {@l. 29 3-69) This device relates to an apron for back filling holes that have been drilled for pole, anchors and the like.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an apron for receiving and collecting earth deposited thereon by a drill and the like that is digging the hole and thereby protecting the surrounding area from becoming soiled by the earth.

Another oog'ect of the present invention is to provide an apron for back filling holes for poles, anchors, etc., which is simple in construction and in its use and readily eifectivc to receive the earth placed thereon during the drilling of the hole and then replacing the earth bac into the hole.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apron for back filling pole and anchor bores which results in considerable savings in time and labor and permits the work to be done without despoiling the lawn and plants which are in the immediate area.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apron for back iiiling pole holes with a releasable panel permitting the back filling of the pole hole and the retention of the excess earth for dumping away from the pole.

With these nd other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the ccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modilied so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are bottom and top plan views respectively of an apron for back filling holes constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE 3 is a agnentary sectional view taken along the e 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4- is a cross sectional view of a hole being dug showing my apron in place to receive the earth.

FIGURE 5 is a similar view with a pole anchor placed in the hole.

FIGURE 6 is a similar view showing the manner of back filling the hole by use of my apron.

FZGURE 7 is a cross sectional View of my apron shown ready to back fill a pole hole.

FIGURE 8 is a similar view showing tie pole hole after being back filled.

FEGURE 9 is a perspective view showing the apron ready to be removed from the pole and pole hole with earth which is excess.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral refers to my apron consisting of a body portion ll made of canvas, plastic and the like having a circular outer periphery i2 and an inner circular cut out portion 33. The body portion 11 must be made of a strong, tough though pliable material inasr ich as large quantities of dirt, stone, etc. will be contained and lifts in the air by the apron lit.

To support a quantity of earth, the apron lid is provided with a plurality of straps lid and which extend radially of the body portion ill and are symmetrically disposed about the circumference of the apron 1h. The

straps i4, 15 are sewn or otherwise fastened to the body portion 11 and extend beyond the periphery 12 of the body portion 11 a distance substantially equal to the radius of the apron ii. The straps l4 and 15 form two identical groups termina.'ng at rings 16 and 17 to which the respective straps are secured.

Further straps 18 secured to the apron Jli extend inwardly of the periphery l3 and have their ends fastened to a plurality of rings 19. There are eight such straps 18 positioned symmetrically about the inner periphery 13 of the apron lit with each pair of straps 13 secured at their free ends to a ring 19 of which there are four. The rings 19 are engaged by snap hooks 20 that are fastened to lines 21 extending to a ring 22 that is secured to one end of an elongated strap 23. During the operation or" the apron device ill the other end of the strap 23 will be engaged by a quick release grip type buckle 24 which is secured to the periphery 12 of the apron ii at mid-position between the two groups of straps 14- and 15.

At the opposite side of the apron ii, also between the two groups of straps lid and 15', there is an opening 25 extending the full radius of the apron ll forming panels 3% and 31. The edges of the apron ill at the opening 25 are provided with snap hooks 26 and rings 27 for releasably securing the edges of the panels 30 and 31 together. A flap 2.5 which covers the opening 25 to prevent dirt, etc. from passing therethrough when such is not desired, is fastened along one edge of the panel 3% as at 29 and extends over the opening 25 to the other panel 31.

The apron device is also provided with an anchor rod retaining strap 32 which has loops 33 and 3dat the ends thereof and is positioned radially of the apron Ill and fastened inwardly of member 34 to the inner and outer peripheries 13 and 12 of the apron 11. The func tion of the strap 32 is to engage an anchor rod when earth is being back filled into a hole to prevent movement thereof as explained in greater detail hereinafter.

In the normal use of my apron device ill, the apron as shown by FIGURE 2 is placed on the earth over the site a pole anchor hole is to be dug. However, since all of the dirt removed to drill the hole is to be back filled, the strap 23 is removed from its connection to the inner rings 19. The anchor hole 35 is drilled as illustrated by FIGURE 4 by a conventional drill as extending through the central opening 13 of the apron body portion 1 1. As the drill 36 rotates and bites into the earth, it deposits the earth on the apron 11. After the hole 35 has been dug to its desired depth, the drill as is removed and an anchor 37 placed therein with its anchor 38 extending upwardly and outwardly of the hole 35'. Loop 33 of the strap 32 is placed over the end of the anchor rod 33 and the strap 3-2 is pulled taut to secure the anchor rod 38 against being dislodged. The two rings 16 and 17 are now brought together and engaged by a hook of a hoist or lift (not shown) and lifted upwardly. The apron it) is raised above the ground as shown by FIGURE 6 with the central portion of the apron lil extending downwardly permitting the earth to fall through the opening 13 to back fill the hole 35. All of th earth will fall directly into the hole 35 to fill same, the earth later being tamped and then sodded or returned to its original condition. The strap 32 will then slip off the end of the anchor rod 38.

To use my apron it} for digging pole or post holes and back filling same, the apron It? is again spread over the spot the pole hole is to be dug and the drill 36 used as explained above and shown by FlGURE 4. After the pole hole 39 has been dug and the drill removed, a pole it is placed through the opening 13 in the apron ii and into the hole 39, supported therein by the conventional manner (not shown). As before, the two rings 16 and V tending from said first named opening to 17 are gathered together and engaged by a lift hook and line 41. The strap 23 is now taken in hand and the snap hooks 2% thereof are engaged to the central rings 19. The strap 23 is then slipped through the rings l6, l7, pulled tightly and then threaded through and engaged by the buckle 24 to secure the strap 23. Now, the hoist picks up and lifts the apron device 1% off the ground and shown by FIGURE 7. Very little any earth will fall back into the opening 39 until the strap 23 is loosened at the buckle 2 The weight of the earth in the apron ll Will cause the inner portion of the apron ill to slide downwardly as shown by FIGURE 8 to cause some of the earth to fall through the central opening Only sufficient slack is provided the strap 23 to permit the pole hole 39 to become filled when tamped with the excess earth remaining in the apron 1:1. Snap hooks 2d are now disengaged from their respective rings 27 to separate the panels Ell and 3 1 and provide the radial opening 25. The apron device in containing the excess earth can now be swung away from the pole dil by permitting the pole 4% which is at the central opening 3 to pass along the radial opening to beyond the periphery 12 of the apron ill. The excess earth in the apron ll can now be taken away from the site of the pole and dumped whenever desired.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Fatent of the United States is:

1. A device for back body portion having a medially disposed opening and a further opening extending from said first named opening to an outer periphery of said body portion, releasable fastening means extending across said further opening for closin said o enin a lu-ralit' oielon ated members z: I Q a secured to said body portion and extending beyond the periphery of said body portion, means connecting the free ends of said elongated members for lifting said pliable body portion at said outer periphery and further means connected to said body portion at said medially disposed opening for lifting said body portion at said inner portion of said pliable body portion.

2. A device for back filling holes comprising a substantially circular pliable body portion having a substantially concentrically disposed opening and a further opening exthe outer periphery of said pliable body portion, releasable fastening means secured to said body portion at said further opening for closing said opening, a plurality of elongated members secured to said body portion and extending beyond the periphery of said body portion, means connecting the free ends of said elongated members for lifting said pliable body portion at said outer periphery and further means connected to said body portion at said concentrically disposed opening for lifting said body portion at said inner portion of said pliable body portion.

3. A device for back filling holes comprising a pliable body portion having a medially disposed opening and a further opening extending from said first named opening to an outer periphery of said body portion, releasable" fastening means extending across said further opening for closing said opening, a plurality of elongated members secured to said body portion and extending beyond the periphery of said body portion, means connecting the free ends of said elongated members for lifting said pliable body portion at said outer periphery, fastening members secured'to said pliable body portion about said medially disposed opening, a further fastening member engaging each of said first fastening members, extensible members filling holes comprising a pliable l conn cted at one end to said further fastening members and joined together at their 0 r ends and a I l asa buckle secured to said pliable body portion at said outer periphery for securing said other ends of said extensible members.

4. A device for back filling holes comprising a substantially circular pliable body portion having a substantially concentrically disposed opening and a further opening extending from said first named opening to the outer periphe y of said pliable body portion, releasable fastening means secured to said body portion at said further opening for closing said opening, a plurality of elongated members secured to said body portion and extending beyond the periphery of said body portion, means connecting the free ends of said elongated members for lifting said pliable body portion at said outer periphery, fastening members secured to said pliable body portion about said medially disposed opening, a further fastening member engaging each of said first fastening members, extensible members connected at one end to said further fastening members and joined together at their other ends and a releasable buckle secured to said pliable body portion at said outer periphery for securing said other ends of said extensible members.

5. A device for back filling holes comprising a substantially circular apron, having a concentrically disposed opening and an elongated aperture extending from said opening and the periphery of said circular apron, a plurality of releasable fastening members secured to said apron adjacent said aperture for closing said aperture, afiap secured along one edge to said apron and extending over said aperture, a plurality of radially disposed straps secured to said apron and extending beyond the periphery of said apron, said straps forming two groups, said aperture being disposed between said groups of straps, a ring secured to said straps of each of said groups for lifting said apron at the periphery thereof, and a plurality of ring members secured to said apron at said concentrically disposed opening for lifting said apron at the inner portion of said apron.

6. A device for back filling holes comprising a substantially circular apron, having a concentrically disposed opening and an elongated aperture extending from said opening and the periphery of said circular apron, a plurality of releasable fastening members secured to said apron adjacent said aperture for closing said aperture, a flap secured along one edge to said apron and extending over said aperture, a plurality of radially disposed straps secured to said apron and extending beyond the periphery of said apron, said straps forming two groups, said aperture being disposed between said groups of straps, a ring secured to said straps of each of said groups for lifting said apron at the periphery thereof, a plurality of ring members secured to said apron at said concentrically disposed opening, a releasable fastening member secured to each of said last named ring members, an extensible member secured to each of said last named releasable fastening members, strap means secured to said extensible members at their free ends and a buckle secured to said apron between said groups of straps and substantially opposite said aperture for receiving said strap means after having passed said strap means through said rings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A DEVICE FOR BACK FILLING HOLES COMPRISING A PLIABLE BODY PORTION HAVING A MEDIALLY DISPOSED OPENING AND A FURTHER OPENING EXTENDING FROM SAID FIRST NAMED OPENING TO AN OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID BODY PORTION, RELEASABLE FASTENING MEANS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID FURTHER OPENING FOR CLOSING SAID OPENING, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID BODY PORTION AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BODY PORTION, MEANS CONNECTING THE FREE ENDS OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS FOR LIFTING SAID PLIABLE BODY PORTION AT SAID OUTER PERIPHERY AND FURTHER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BODY PORTION AT SAID MEDIALLY DISPOSED 